Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/tenor and baritone sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were elated to return to the former Sherborn Inn, now known as The Heritage of Sherborn.  They first played here in 1998.  They played with lyricism and passion!   It was a full house, with their many fans returning and happy to hear them again.

The seating has been changed, with the band set up in the right hand corner of the “T”,  now playing directly to the 50+ listeners in what was the dead-end left corner.  No problem hearing the band now!!   This was taken during the break from what had been the ‘dead end’ left corner of the “T”.  Our ‘music family’ was getting re-acquainted.

The viewing tables inside the front door were replaced with a very active bar, and a tall table with tall chairs just inside the door, and a fine dance floor.

The Front Line was HOT right from the beginning, with At Sundown

Canal St. Blues is an old war horse, with Tom Boates’ growling trombone.  He was just back from a well deserved vacation in Florida.  He’s been teaching music for 40 years! He’ll be back at Guilford CT High School.

Jimmy was featured with a tune done by the Blue Steele & His Orchestra, in 1927, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving.  John took out the baritone sax.  RaeAnn video taped  this with the Wolverines on November 7, 2015 at the 26th Annual Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler AZ   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVjyTqKv28

Jimmy has a wealth of tunes and introduced one to the band this week, pianist Joe Robichaux’s 1933 After Me The Sun Goes Down.

Once In a While was a barn-buster! It’s on their new CD.  They slowed down for a tune of Jeff’s choice, he picked Django’s Nuage,  ending in a flamboyant cornet coda.

John and Gisela Brunaccini took advantage of the dance floor for the 1931 Pop tune, Strangers, and for the first blues ever recorded, Memphis Blues – nice fox trot.  They’re in their 90’s and fabulous dancers.

Jimmy sang the vocal, Rick’s tuba had a great solo on Sunset Café Stomp.  John took out the tenor sax for Robin’s Nest with Jimmy Scatting.  John was still in good form from playing Sunday Brunch at the Griswold Inn Sunday with the 90-year-old Bob Card and The Freight Train Five, where they also played On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

The Wolverines recorded Wolverine Blues on their first CD, without a trombone, because John hadn’t found one good enough.  Tom Boates definitely has filled in that gap!

Jimmy Mazzy has been playing almost every night with one band or another.  Last Sunday he was with the New Orleans Trio on the Jazz Boat  up and down the Cape Cod Canal.  There’s only one cruise left this year, folks – September 4th.  They board at 1:15pm.

Behind Jimmy is drummer Dave Didriksen, who has been with John Clark for years.  Dave Didriksen knows his Jazz, and is booking Ken’s Steak House every Sunday afternoon 4pm starting in September.  Ken’s Steak House

 

 

He and Rick MacWilliams have lead the rhythm section for John Clark ever since he started here in New England.

Rick leads the Commonwealth Jazz Band that includes John Clark or Noel Kaletsky on reeds and Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals.

 

 

There was a request for Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Wolves played it in Dixieland style like the Halfway House orchestra in 1927. (They were named after a dance hall called the Halfway House that was halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.)

Robin’s Nest was in remembrance of Sir Charles Thompson, a jazz pianist of supple power who bridged the swing and bebop eras.  He died June 16 at age 98.

 

 

 

John sang a rambunctious Happy Feet, from the 1929 King Of Jazz (named for Paul Whitman.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom sings on the new CD, Now & Then, Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz, with Jeff adding some cornet vibrato.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A slow bluesy blues had many names, they stuck with Audrey, banjo intro, tenor sax, trombone, cornet muted with a wine glass.

 

 

 

 

 

Ross Petot is an essential part of this band, playing his excellent stride piano.  He was featured on a WILD Birmingham Breakdown.  John on bari sax.   CineDevine recorded it at the 2013 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iabyXz3ODM

 

 

John returned to tenor sax with Jimmy Singing September in The Rain, Tom’s trombone sneaking in a bit of In My Solitude.  They inspire each other; when they get together it’s magic!!

They closed with dynamic solos on an exciting, freewheeling, Strutting With Some Barbecue.  Fabulous!

The Wolverine Jazz Band and its individual members will be kept busy next year, including many festivals.    We try to keep up with them, but it isn’t easy!!  Their Gatsby Weekend on Star Island off Portsmouth NH Aug 27-28 is sold out!
Keep an eye out for them on our Calendars at nejazz.com.

Their new CD, Now & Then is out.  Number 14?  It has some tunes they recorded in the past, including a couple from 1998!

You can get them wherever John or the Wolverines appear, or at their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For their appearances, keep an eye on our Calendars at www.nejazz.com.